State Umno chairman Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub said the decision was made as PAS was still cooperating with Bersatu in the Perikatan Nasional coalition.

Jazlan said Kelantan Umno had also decided to contest the next general election without an electoral pact with PAS and would field candidates against PAS in all 45 state assembly seats and 14 parliamentary seats.

However, Kelantan PAS said it would maintain relations with Umno until the next general election, according to Ahmad, who is also the Kelantan PAS commissioner. His statement was confirmed by information chief Mohd Nassuruddin Daud.

The Kelantan Umno decision is the latest in a series of skirmishes between the two parties, who are also partners in the Muafakat Nasional alliance.

PAS leaders were in the federal Cabinet formed by PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin before his government was replaced by an Umno-led government last year.

“PAS is more comfortable with Bersatu in the formal coalition of Perikatan Nasional,” Jazlan told reporters today. If PAS then decides to sever ties with Bersatu, Kelantan Umno would abide by any decision by party leaders on cooperation.

However, as long as PAS supported the Umno-led federal government of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the seven Kelantan Umno assembly members would support the state government and not apply pressure on the administration.

PAS has 36 seats in the 45-member Kelantan state assembly, with one Bersatu member on the government bench. Umno has seven seats.

Jazlan said the decision to sever ties was made after a special meeting with the state PAS leadership today. Kelantan Umno is the second state after Terengganu to sever ties with PAS.